About

Mining and mineral processing waste as potential feedstock for critical minerals

Currently, there are nearly 100 legacy mine or mineral processing sites on EPA’s Superfund National Priorities List, and many more abandoned mine land sites throughout the U.S. are in variable stages of remediation.

The purpose of the EMRTAI is to advance technological innovation and promote diverse stakeholder and community dialogue surrounding the recovery of critical minerals from waste materials at Superfund legacy hard rock mining or metal processing sites.

  • EMRTAI advances EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment by assisting technology developers and vendors with performance evaluations that target site remediation and critical minerals recovery technologies as part of a sustainable materials management (SMM) strategy.

  • EMRTAI supports stakeholders across the mining industry by generating credible performance data through a quality-driven technology assessment program. Data can be used in selecting technologies to characterize critical minerals in mine waste and/or inform the selection of a technology to recover critical minerals as part of the remedial strategy.

  • EMRTAI spurs innovation and establishes a technology demonstration framework, both of which are essential in supporting federal critical minerals goals that prioritize recovery from unconventional sources including mine waste.

  • EMRTAI engages with communities impacted by legacy mining to foster dialogue about the potential for critical minerals recovery during site remediation to understand local perspectives, concerns, and opportunities.

Check out the Introduction to EMRTAI webinar that was hosted by EPA Contaminated Site Clean-Up Information (CLU-IN) Program on June 18, 2024

EMRTAI: Advancing Technological Innovation and Supporting Informed Decision-Making in Critical Minerals Recovery from Mine Waste

In parallel with technology assessments, EMRTAI will conduct community outreach to foster dialogue on how the development and future implementation of technologies to recover critical minerals from waste materials at legacy mine sites impacts remediation and the adjacent communities.

Many of the technology assessments conducted under the EMRTAI will take place at sites listed on the EPA’s Superfund National Priority List (NPL) and/or use waste materials from sites as feedstock.

The Initiative is slated to run from 2024-2027 as Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) momentum in site remediation continues to grow. The monitoring and recovery of critical minerals from mining-related waste materials can positively impact resource use efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, environmental impacts, and waste generation.

Critical minerals recovery may expedite the cleanup of legacy mine sites and support the development of a U.S. supply chain for critical minerals.

The EMRTAI is led by Battelle

Battelle is the world’s largest, independent, nonprofit applied science and technology organization. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, since its founding in 1929, Battelle applies science and technology to solve society’s most pressing needs spanning the energy, environment, infrastructure, health and life sciences, and national security industries.